₦airaland Forum

TippyTop:
Alert me when he visits the Jagaban of Cocaine Producers.

pchukwudi:
This is too systematic to be ordinary.

Suspected members of the Boko Haram sect on Monday laid an ambush between Sari and Gudumbali areas of Borno State, killing another Lieutenant Colonel, Otos Umusu, and his unnamed security aide while heading to their base in Baga.

Our correspondent learnt that Umusu, who was the Commanding Officer of the 118 Task Force Battalion, Operation Lafiya Dole, in Borno, and his aide were killed by an Improvised Explosive Device planted on the road.

It was gathered that the commander and his men were coming from Maiduguri and returning to their location in Baga when the explosion occurred.

Boko Haram insurgents had on November 4, 2016 killed Lt.-Col. Abu Ali, the Commanding Officer of 272 Task Force Battalion and four soldiers in an attack in the Mallam Fatori area of Borno State.

When contacted, Army spokesperson, Operation Lafiya Dole in the North-East, Colonel Mustapha Anka, said the incident did not happen in his jurisdiction.

A top military source at the Nigerian Army headquarters, Abuja, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

He said, “The Theatre Command will issue a statement on the incident. But unfortunately, it is true. We are fighting a war and these terrorists are not people that came from the moon. They live among us. That is why the military is careful about information.

“The family members of the Lt.-Col. should not get to hear the death of their breadwinner on the social media. Everyone should allow the military to issue a statement about this.”

A Facebook user, Funsho Yusuf, wrote that he was a friend of the late Lt.-Col., adding that the deceased was promoted in 2015.

He said, “I have known Lt.-Col. Otos Umusu since the age of 11. He was a courageous and highly resolute man. We were good friends for over 25 years. Otos, as he was fondly called, was responsible for channeling supplies to our troops in the frontlines for a few years.

“He was promoted last year and became a commanding officer of one of the units combating insurgency in the North-East. I interacted with Otos two nights ago till around 3am.

“I remembered him throwing a jibe at me for not visiting his more volatile location in Madagali during my recent tour of the North-East. He also raised his observation on the fight against insurgency being intensified in the media rather than on the ground. I looked into his eyes with sympathy as I appreciated his selfless sacrifice and that of those of our other troops who are fighting with limited resources. To be honest, I usually prayed in my heart that we saw again, whenever I parted ways with anyone serving in North-East Nigeria.

“I was heartbroken to hear about your passing this morning. You are a hero and should never be forgotten. I pray that God almighty would give your family the fortitude to bear your loss. You shall certainly rest in peace, my Colonel.”

Ayomanor150:
A Great Man of Urhobo Nation, U came, u saw, U conquered! Rest In Peace OLOROGUN1 Of Africa

agwom:
“It is not a permanent job. Rather, it is a two-year intervention programme for unemployed graduates".

Beneficiaries of the scheme are to be paid N30,000 monthly stipend.

Asokoro2:
Our mindsets concerning our leaders have to change so they can seat up.
You have salaries to pay, recession to fight, youth to employ and so many other challenges and you're being congratulated like you won a lottery?

Congratulations! only if you're there to loot sir.
Please get to work and offer your contribution if you're to be remembered for good.

God bless Nigeria.

Associated Press: Lagos (AFP) - It's not entirely Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's fault that Nigeria's economy is inextricably tied to the global price of oil, now half of its 2014 peak of over $100 per barrel.

But the president's response to the economic crisis has a growing number of people concerned that he doesn't have what it takes to rescue Nigeria from recession.

Warning signs appeared early. Buhari took six months after being elected to name a finance minister, then vowed not to "kill the naira" by devaluing it, against expert advice and with nefarious consequences.

His seemingly lackadaisical attitude to the crashing economy spooked investors who worried that he was ignoring the crisis.

Now critics are coming from all sides. In October, Buhari's wife Aisha told the BBC that she may not back him in the next election, suggesting that his government had been hijacked and he had lost control.

Buhari's response, that his wife "belongs to my kitchen", made Nigerians cringe. But what he said next was, politically, more revealing.

"It is not easy to satisfy the whole Nigerian opposition parties to participate in the government," Buhari said.

He can say that again. Over the past month, the president has repeatedly been stonewalled by lawmakers who want the executive to be more transparent about his economic policies and plans.

Early this month, Nigeria's Senate rejected Buhari's attempt to take on almost $30 billion in external borrowing to fund his record budget "due to lack of documents" supporting his request.

The Senate also "expressed surprise" at the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, who said it was considering jailing or fining people for holding dollars in an unconventional strategy designed to address a foreign currency shortage in the country.

"The measure is disruptive and counter productive, threatening to undermine many of the reform efforts... intended to boost investor confidence," the Senate said in a press statement Monday.

- 'Policy paralysis' -

"The president is having difficulty making any kind of legislative headway," John Ashbourne, economist at Capital Economics, told AFP.

"It adds to the sense that there's policy paralysis and when the economy is facing a difficult time we need some action. We can't get that if Buhari isn't able to negotiate."

Nigeria's economy contracted in the third quarter by 2.2 percent, with rebels in the oil-producing southern swamplands continuing to attack pipelines and businesses struggling to access foreign exchange.

"I think the recession is really starting to hurt," Razia Khan, Africa economist at Standard Chartered Bank, said.

"With the current shortage of foreign exchange clearly having a detrimental effect on growth, there is little evidence of any meaningful policy initiative that might be able to resolve this," Khan said.

"There is a concern that there isn't enough momentum, not enough is being done."

Ideally, Buhari's expansionary budget would have boosted growth. But the fiscal stimulus isn't materialising.

In October, the budget ministry said it was facing unanticipated revenue shortfalls and that it had spent only a little more than half of what was allocated for 2016.

Revenue shortfalls will persist as long as militants continue sabotaging the oil and gas infrastructure.

Today Nigeria's oil production is 1.6 million barrels per day, down 22 percent from the same period in 2015, with no signs the sabotage will stop.

- 'Military ruler' -

Talks with the militants in the south have been unsuccessful so far.

"President Buhari and his government have so far failed to hold constructive talks with militants," Rhidoy Rashid, oil analyst at Energy Aspects, said in a recent note.

"The Nigerian military has also continued its operations in the Delta, inflaming tensions while failing to disrupt the militants."

Investors are rattled and want to see a more concrete plan from Buhari's government, said Manji Cheto, risk analyst at Teneo Intelligence.

"I believe he continues to act as if he's a military ruler, there is a perception that has undermined the ability of policy makers within his government to take decisions," Cheto said.

"I genuinely think that he's pretty much run out of his goodwill."

Some polls are already reflecting that sentiment. Last year around this time, Buhari enjoyed an 80 percent approval rating, reported analysis firm BMI Research.

Compare that to this September 2016, when his approval rating hit just 41 percent, with voters bearing the brunt of 18 percent inflation, slow business and sputtering electricity, the result of lower oil and gas output.

dman4mdmoon:
"Tell Jimoh the pig that unlike him I do not have a covenant with the devil, I am not a ritualist and I do not sleep in coffins for money".

"Pl tell Jimoh Ibrahim that his over stretched anus from his sodomy activities needs to be stiched up........." How does he know all these? It means he is also involved.

Grundig:
Managing the resources of a small coven like ogun state is a different ball game. Kemi may have excelled as the commissioner for finance in ogun state but minister for finance in Nigeria is a different ball game.

This is not a fault of hers but that of Buhari who put square pegs on round holes.

In my opinion, she should be head of an agency within a ministry not a substantial head of a complex ministry.

Emefiele would've been sacked a long time ago if buhari had the powers. Too bad, emefieles current tenure will expire same year as buharis regime.

Vp osinbajo should step aside as head of the economic team. He is a professor of law for heavens sakes.

nwabobo:
He also advised Mr. Buhari to stop dwelling on the past, saying since he was elected to change the country, he should concentrate on clearing the mess he inherited.

“Now that we have had change because the actors and the situation needed to be changed, let us move forward to have progress through a comprehensive economic policy and programme that is intellectually, strategically and philosophically based,” Mr. Obasanjo said.

“It is easier to win an election than to right the wrongs of a badly fouled situation. When you are outside, what you see and know are nothing compared with the reality.
“And yet once you are on seat, you have to clear the mess and put the nation on the path of rectitude, development and progress leaving no group or section out of your plan, programme and policy and efforts. The longer it takes, the more intractable the problem may become.”

The former president also criticised plans by Mr. Buhari to take about $30billion loan to fix critical administration.
“I am sure that such a comprehensive policy and programme (that will move Nigeria forward) will not support borrowing US$30 billion in less than three years. It will give us the short-, medium- and long-term picture.

“Adhocry is not the answer but cold, hard headed planning that evinces confidence and trust is the answer. Economy neither obeys orders nor does it work according to wishes. It must be worked upon with all factors considered and most stakeholders involved.

“The investors, domestic and foreign, are no fools and they know what is going on with the management of the economy including the foreign exchange and they are not amused.

jarkbauer:
see daftness.... so because it was cancelled... waste will not be generated again? infact more waste will be generated. alpha beta is for tax not lawma

moufan:
pls stop saying what you don't know.a Lagos high court was the one who ordered the stoppage of the monthly environmental exercise and not all this your concorted, mere here-say ambode is standing up to tinubu stuff.

OZAOEKPE:
Click like if you believe buhari came only to kill, to steal and to destroy or share if you feel otherwise...

ettybaba:
Rigging of the Ondo primary by shameless Oyegun is a bad episode in APC history.

Voy:
Renowned Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, might have now realized that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is worse than that of Former President, Goodluck Jonathan

Benita27:
If they build they won't have where to loot from.

Guardian: As fiscal year draws to a close, the National Assembly has queried the Federal Government for failing to spend a significant portion of the N500 billion appropriated for social welfare scheme as the Presidency said it spent less than N1 billion.

Failure to spend substantial part of the fund appropriated to tackle poverty and ease the economy out of recession means that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government will struggle to get the lawmakers’ approval on pending proposals, especially the $30 billion loan meant for infrastructure building.

Special Adviser to the President on Social Protection Plan, Mariam Uwais, made a stunning disclosure to the National Assembly Joint Committees on Appropriation yesterday when she said only N25 billion had been released to the scheme. She said another N40 billion would be released before the end of the year and that a minimum of N60 billion would have been spent on the scheme before the end of the year.

“We have the framework in place but unfortunately, we did not get the release early enough,” Uwais said.

The Appropriation committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives while considering President Buhari’s request for virement of N180 billion from the N500 billion social intervention scheme to other sectors, some agencies presented sharply contrasting figures with those of the President.

The joint committee expressed shock that the Social Intervention Scheme, which was a key campaign point of the administration could be treated with disdain, to the extent that only less than one billion had been spent.

Members led by the chairman of the Senate and House of Representatives’ Committees on Appropriation, Dajuma Goje and Mustapha Bala Dawaki, respectively, raised issues about the readiness of the executive arm of government to implement the scheme.

“I don’t know if you are aware that this agency of yours is borne out of our campaign promises,” Goje, who is also a member of President Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC). ‘And you’re here to say that you don’t need the money. You don’t need the balance of the money, you want it appropriated to other agencies. After we have promised people that we are going to provide them money and the money will be sent to them. It’s quite sad.”

The discrepancy in the figures presented by the President and those by the agencies was first noticed in respect of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The attention of lawmakers was aroused when the Director of Finance and Accounts at the NYSC, Mr. AIB Adeleke, informed the committee that the Corps only needed N8.5 billion. The President had proposed N19.792 billion for approval. A surprised Goje asked Adeleke to be sure of his facts and figures but the NYSC finance director stood his ground.

Within the few minutes given to Adeleke to get his facts right, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Solomon Ita Enang, rose, walked to him and spoke in low tones with him.
The Director-General of Budget, Ben Akabueze, swiftly informed the committee that Adeleke surely got the figures mixed up.

Akabueze said there was another sum of N11.2 billion which the NYSC had requested earlier in the year adding that the President simply wanted to take care of all the needs of the NYSC at once by asking for N19.792 billion.

When called upon later to declare his final position, he simply rose to say, “I agree with the submission of the DG Budget.”

Other agencies which presented conflicting figures with those of the President include Public Complaints Commission which asked the committee to approve the sum of N2.5 billion against Buhari’s N1.2 billion.

Also, the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme for which the President voted N35 billion asked the National Assembly committee to approve N35.2 billion.

PUSH1:
“I do not think government can wave any magic wand to make the refineries work at internationally acceptable capacity utilisation level. My preference is that the refineries should be privatised and the private sector should be encouraged to take over both the risk and returns associated with the market economy.

Wiseandtrue:
but the pictures did not show how PMB cut Tinubu to size now

GMBuhari:
Bad belle now expect Buhari to do in 2 years what clueless did not do in 5 years

each mini refinery will cost $75M , so tell me , will the mini refineries be completed in 6 months or a year ?

GMBuhari: If all the excess from crude was used to even upgrade two of the refineries in Nigeria , today we will have to import less even if works is not completed, it would be clear that Clueless Jonathan had good intentions and thanks for the Political avengers , we produce lesser barrels of crude everyday , meaning less capital for the country , it means we don't have money to build refinery and import our own refined crude oil at the same time

GMBuhari: as for you cuteboy2: i AM NOT SURPRISED , I am sure you are one of the people who condemned N-Power program and did not register , as at this morning , three people have confirmed that they have been recruited / selected / offered Jobs by Npower and the posts are still here for you to read

flyingsnail:
The minister of finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has been accused of derailing the Federal Government’s economic progress by her body language, actions and utterances.

According to the Nigerian Youth Entrepreneurship Forum for National Development (NYEFOND), since her appointment as Minister of Finance late last year, the minister has made statements not fit for a minister of her status.

“We have watched with dismay as the minister has tried, albeit in vain, to bring the current administration into disrepute, through her actions; most times, without even knowing it and, other times, so brazenly that it is difficult to know if she is intent on bringing down the government’s efforts or bent on seeing the government’s policies work.

The minister has displayed great incompetence in handling the Nigerian economy, owing to her poor understanding of how things really work.

“So far, the minister has refused to heed the presidential directive to take action against directors in the ministry who were indicted in the ‘budget padding’ scandal. Rather, she has covered up for them and retained them within the ministry.

“Worse, she has refused to pay the salaries and entitlements of former head of states and displayed great inexperience and confusion in tackling issues relating to the recession.

“In the history of the Nigerian Civil Service, the minister was the first to be turned upon by the civil servants in the ministry, who demanded that she go, due to huge debts owed them.

“The minister has shamelessly and blatantly urged the Federal Government to borrow billions of dollars to salvage an economy which she described as “not really being in recession; recession is just a word,” thus mortgaging the future of our children and giving the next administration a huge bill of debt to pay.”

How can we borrow to pay the salaries of our civil servants? When we want to construct rails and invest in the agricultural sector, what are we going to do, if we run to borrow billions of dollars just to pay salaries? The regularity of workers’ salaries has been lost since2014 and our foreign reserves have been depleted prodigally by the last regime and all a minister, in this era of change can tell us is that we are not in any form of trouble, but she can encourage the borrowing of billions of dollars?

“It is embarrassing, shameful and heart-breaking to watch a minister who is supposed to know better run around seemingly confused and without direction.

“Is this how she is helping to promote the policies of this government? Is this how she will help the country get out of the recession? Sadly, she is derailing the progress of the current administration, no thanks to her confusing statements and body languages,” read the statement signed by the group’s secretary-general, Victor Nse.

The group further advised the government to make a decision on whether it wants to keep her or do away with her.

“We, therefore, advise the Federal Government to make a decision on her continued stay as a minister, before she embarrasses the government and makes the nation a laughing stock before the world".


http://leadership.ng/news/560348/finance-minister-derailing-pmbs-economic-progress

mrvitalis:
Dangote is coming with a monster refinery no investor will compete with such small refineries expect u want to criss cross Nigeria with pipelines and thats no wise investment

I just laugh the likes of tonimas and capital oil... If they dont begin to build refineries to hold the south south and south East market then they will be sidelined